Fluid meter for gas administering machines



Marh 9, 1937. J. A. HEIDBRINK .2,073,372

f 4 FLUID MmER'FoR GAS ADMINISTERING MACHINES v Filed oct. 2:5,A 193s sa l v M .l

4e Invenitai'r: f 6' "Jag 1( Hamm-m5.

' 'sans sa se f Patented Mar. 9,1937

. PATENT- OFFICE FLUID METER Foa MAC Jay A. Heidbrink,

HINES Minneapolis, Minn.

GAS ADMINISTERING Application October 23, 1933, ScriallNo. 694,818

2 Claims.

My invention relates to iluid meters for gas .administering machines. It is an object of the invention to provide a device to be connected in the line of gas flow to the patient which will 5 enable the operator to have accurate control over the volume of gas being delivered to the patient, and which will accurately indicate that volume in small quantities or large quantities regardless of' the pressure at which the gas is being delivered. This indication is shown as a definite volume delivered per unit -of time,` as so many liters per minute or so many gallons per hour. The gases are those which eithersingly or in considerable mixtures are administered to patientsv for inducing in the patient the desired state of anaesthesia or analgesia.

In carrying out my invention I provide a transparent tube held in relation to calibrated scales, one of whichhas calibrations indicating liters per minute and the other indicating gallons per hour. Within this tube is an elongated member, preferably either constructed as a spool or having thereon a spiral line and which is of light weight and hence adapted to be lifted readily by the gas, and which is connected with a 4head or piston movable in a gas passageway of slightly expanding inner transverse dimensions up the passageway so that as the piston4 is raised by the pressure of gas behind it, a larger' and larger annular opening is formed which has a direct relation to the calibrations on the paper scales, and which relation varies throughout the length of the delivery tube by reason Vof varying increases of transverse inner dimensions thereof.

The first or lowest portion of the. gas passageway having the smallest expansion of progressive inner dimensions is adapted to register very small iiow of gases, as from one to ten gallons per hour, or from .1 to 1 liter per minute. An intermediate portion of the passageway has an increased rate of internal expansion and registers mere rapid ow of gases, as from 10 to 90 gallons per hour or from l to 6 liters per minute. The last or upper portion of the gas passageway has the greatest degreeof internal expansion and is adapted tocontrol and effect the registry of. relatively large ow of gases, as from 90 t o 360 gallons per hour or from 6 to 23 liters per minute. Associated with the elongated member, which may be a helically uted rod, or a rod with a helical line appended thereon, is a member such as a set of vanes adapted to be impinged by gas flowing through the passageway and c ause the indicating member'to whirl, thus giving; visual levidence that the gas is flowingr (Cl. 'I3-209) The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof, and the novel features of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one form of my invention,-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the device largely in vertical section and showing the face of the calibrated scales. Fig. 2 is a side elevation part sectional view taken in a direction at right angles to Fig.. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of what is shown in Fig. 1 showing the means for causing the indicator to turn. Fig. 5 is asectional plan view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

As illustrated in the embodiment shown in the drawing, a tube I0 leads from a source of supply of gasesvunder pressure (which may be a mixing chamber), and is formed with an upwardly-turned extension I2 provided with a neeelle valve I4 which opens a communication to a chamber I6, said chamber I6 being closed at its top by a valvenut I8 having a packing nut 'I2 threaded thereon. A needle valve stern 10 is threaded 'through the nut I8 at 14 and is held in a guide I6 and controlled by a hand nut 'I8 whereby the flow of gas may be regulated as shown vby the indicating mechanism hereinafter described, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The chamber I6 is extended at I5 through a boss I1 formed on the piece I2 and into a vertical passageway I9 which is topped by a circumferential valve seat 22.

A tubular member 24 is threaded at 20 into the member I1, and at 2| into a hollow casting member 32 with a centrally positioned opening 36 through its upper wall, and a discharge tube 34 leading therefrom, preferably at right angles as shown. The interior of tubular member 24 has portions 26, 28 and 30 which successively are each progressively expanded in internal dimensions and at -increasing ratios, the expansion shown in the drawing being somewhat exaggerated for illustrative purposes. Under this'arrangement the portion 26 expands very slowly and hence controls flow indications of relatively small volumes of gas. The portion 28 expands more rapidly and controls indications of intermediate volumes of flow, and the portion 30 expands much more rapidly than either of the other two portions and controls indications of relatively large flows of gases. The member 32 is provided with an extension 44 substantially semi-circular in cross-section at its intermediate portions and provided with vertical side anges 46. The central or semi-circular portion is extended into a boss 48 provided with an opening 49 through which a transparent. tube 42 is adapted to be inserted. I'he bore 4| of tube 42 registers with the opening 36, and the tube 42 seats upon a. gasket 43 within a depression of member 32 surrounding the bore 3 6. A nut 50 threaded in the opening 49 engages a. second gasket 52 by which the upper end of the transparent tube 42 is closed. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a rod-like member 38, which may be in the form of a helix 39 as in' Fig. 4, or which may have a helical line appended thereon, is formed with a piston-like head 40 which seats in the valve seat 22 from passageway I9. The other end of rod 38 or 39 passes through opening 36 to within the transparent tube 42 and the pressure of gas upon the piston head 40 will lift the same more or less according to the degree of such pressure and the rate of ow of the gas whereby the end of the member 38 or 39 will appear at different points elevated to different heights in the transparent tube 42. In the form shown in Fig. 4, a vane-like device 45 is secured to the stem 39 whereby when gas is flowing said stem will be caused continuously to rotate, and the movement of the helical lines thereon will give visual evidence that the gas is flowing.

Upon the member 44 and its Wings 46 is a metallic plate concaved to closely surround the wings 53 of this plate are positioned a pair of printed cardboard scale members 59 and 59',

one indicating flow by gallons per hour and the other by liters per minute, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood as a matter of course that similar scale members are used with the form shown in Fig. 4. Each of these scale members is divided into portions, 62 and 62 corresponding to the portion 26 of the iiow tube 24, 64 and 64 corresponding to the portion 28 of said flow tube, and 66 and 66 corresponding to the portion 30 of said tube. Overlying the scale members 59 and 59 are a pair of glass covers 56 and 56 which are held in position by clips 58 and 58' secured in position by screws 60 threaded into the respective wings 46, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The calibrations on the strip 59 are from 1 to 10 (indicating gallons per hour) for the first portion 62, from 10 to 90 for the second portion 64, and from 90 to 360 for the third portion 66. The calibrations on the printed card 59 are from .1 to 1 (liters per minute) for the rst portion 62', from 1 to 6 for the second portion 64' and from 6 to 23 for the third portion 66'.

From an inspection of the numbering of these calibrations it will appear that the increase in volume indicated is slow for the rst portions 62 and 62 thereof, is much more rapid for the second portions 64 and 64', and great increases are indicated for the portions 66 and 66'.

In operation the device is connected with the delivery line of any gas administering machine where a gas or mixture of gases is delivered past needle valve I4 as controlled by the operator and pushes up piston 40 to a degree determined by the pressure (and consequently the rate of flow) of the gas delivered. This will simultaneously lift said piston and the stem 38, which will indicate with its end against the numberings on the Calibrating scales 59 and 59 the actual volume of gas being delivered. and

which volume may thus be determined accurately by the operator in manipulating the needle valve I4 by the hand nut 18. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the upwardly moving stream of gas passing through the vane member 45 will rotate the stem 39 so that the helical markings thereon will be constantly turning and give visual evidence to the operator of continued ow of gas.

'I'he advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of its features and detail as hereinafter pointed out. Absolutely certain .indication of the volume of flow both in gallons per hour and in liters per minute is always given in view of the operator. Further, the use of printed cardboard scales adds greatly to the accuracy of the construction as well as the economy of production, since such scales may be determined empirically and then printed with absolute faithfulness to such determination, whereas if the scales are to be etched upon the glass or upon metal alongside of the glass there is great likelihood of inaccuracy resulting. Also, if desirable for any reason the cardboard scales may be readily replaced by new ones. Furthermore, the position of the transparent tube and the stem moving up into it is such as greatly to facilitate quick and continued observation of flow volumes.

A further very great advantage from the standpoint of manufacture and accuracy comes from the fact that the inspection part of the indicator,

. i. e., the transparent glass tube and the calibrated scales alongside of the same, are dissociated from the flow tube. The flow tube being entirely of metal can readily have its tapered portion, or its different tapered portions, machined to the utmost accuracy and thereafter will'neither shrink nor expand except forthe normal uniform expansion and contraction from changes of temperature, so that at a given temperature, such as, for example,- the ordinary room temperature of operating rooms, where the device will be largely employed, the flow passageways will always be exactly the same. This would not be true i1' the flow passageway were itself made transparent and the calibrations milled thereon. Further, to mill a. transparent member would have a tendency to interfere with visibility through it- 'would, in a word, tend to make itvopaque or blurred. With the arrangement here shown such disadvantages are entirely avoided, and the advantage of machining a casting, or other production, of suitable metal is fully secured.

I claim: 1. A iluid meter for gas administering machines comprising a. tube leading from a supply of gas under pressure, an upwardly turned extension joined to the delivery end of said tube, said exa hand wheel on the upper end of said stem, a

hollow boss in communication with said chamber formed laterally on said extension, said bossn having a vertical passageway, a valve seat in .said passageway, a tubular member having its lower end threaded in to the upper end of said boss, a hollow casting into which the upper end of said tubular member is threaded, a discharge tube leading from said hollow casting, an upward extension carried by said hollow casting and having a portion substantially semi-circular in cross section, verticr. side flanges on said upward ex- :,ovasva tension. a boss on the upper end of said. extension, said boss having an internally threaded opening, a transparent tube extending down from the lower portion of said opening and having gas tight connection with said hollow casting. a nut.

threaded into said opening for closingthe upper end oi said transparent tube in gas tight manner, a rod-like indicating-member in said tubular Y member and said hollow casting adapted to move upwardly into said transparent tube, a head on the lower end of said rod like member adapted to rest upon said valve seat and prevent backward flow of gas, and scale members positioned upon said side flanges, said scale members carrying calibrations representing the volume oi gas supplied tothe patient in a given time and with which said indicating member is adapted to register.

2. A uid meter for gas administering machines comprising a tube leading from a supply of gas under pressure, .an upwardly turned extension Joined to the delivery end of said tube, said 'extension containing a chamber communicating with said tube through an opening. a needle valve for controlling passage of gas through said opening, a nut closing the upper end of said chamber..

a stem for said valve threaded through said nut, a hand wheel on the upper end of saidvstem. a hollow boss in communication'with said chamber formed laterally on said extension, said boss having a vertical passageway, a valve seat in said Vcasting into which the'upper end of said tubular member is threaded. a discharge tube leading from said hollow casting.v an upward extension carried by said hollow casting and having a portion substantially semi-circularin cross section. vertical side iianges' on said upward extension, a

boss on the upper 'end ofA said extension, said boss having an internally threaded opening, a transparent tube extending down from the lower portion of said opening and having gas tight connection withsaid hollow casting. a nut threaded into saidopening for closing theupper end oi said transparent tube in gas tight manner, a

'rod-like-indlcating member in 'said tubular member and said hollow .casting adaptedto move upwardly into said transparent tube, a head on the lower end of said rod like member adapted to rest upon 'said valve seat and prevent lbackward ilow of gas, 'and scale members positioned upon said anges, said scale members carrying calibrations representing' the volume of gas supplied to the patient in a given time and with which said indicating member is adapted to register.

I JAY A. HEmBRmK. 

